Our library has a few weekly book rentals that work pretty much in the way
Deg suggests here; the money to buy them comes from the Friends of the
Library group. Since this collection is not publicly funded per se, we feel
that it is ok to charge for them. After the heat dies down on a particular
title, we add it to the regular collection. Since it has probably not been
used (abused?) as much as our non-rental books, it is usually in better
shape and therefore acts more or less as a replacement copy.
Bryan Griest
Glendale (Ca.) Public Library

Gary, Some public libraries have for quite some time provided a pay-for-use
service for some books in high demand.

Instead of buying many multiple copies of best sellers, book rental plans
allow for patrons who choose to do so to pay a daily fee. When the demand
falls off, the library is not stuck with dozens of copies of the book.

Libraries don't require patrons to rent; copies are still provided through
the normal reserve lists at no charge for those who want to wait their turn.

In similar fashion, some libraries shorten the loan period for such books,
and disallow renewal. A rental plan allows the borrower to keep the book as
long as s/he is willing to pay the daily fee.

This is not a model that applies to the academic setting, where there are
few spikes in demand for the same title. But in the public library setting
a rental model permits the library to provide patrons an alternative to
purchasing the material outright.

>
> Hmmm...interesting. I never, ever vaguely assume to speak for public
> libraries or librarians (being the clueless academic that I am), but I
> wonder how short-term rental to meet public demand fits in with the
> service mandate and philosophy of libraries.

VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues
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VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.